CVE-2018-11383 in radare2
Summary
by MITRE
The r_strbuf_fini() function in radare2 2.5.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid free and application crash) via a crafted ELF file because of an uninitialized variable in the CPSE handler in libr/anal/p/anal_avr.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-11383 represents a critical denial of service weakness in radare2 version 2.5.0 that stems from improper memory management within the r_strbuf_fini() function. This flaw specifically manifests when processing crafted ELF files through the CPSE handler located in the libr/anal/p/anal_avr.c component of the reverse engineering framework. The vulnerability exploits an uninitialized variable that leads to invalid memory free operations, causing the application to crash and resulting in a complete denial of service condition. The issue affects the core analysis capabilities of radare2, which is widely used by security researchers and penetration testers for binary analysis and reverse engineering tasks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper initialization of variables within the CPSE (Control Program State Extension) handler implementation for AVR architecture analysis. When radare2 encounters a malformed ELF file during analysis, the uninitialized variable in the CPSE handler triggers unpredictable memory behavior during the string buffer finalization process. This uninitialized variable contains garbage values that are subsequently used as memory addresses for deallocation operations, leading to invalid free calls that corrupt the heap memory management structures. The vulnerability is classified as a memory safety issue with direct implications for application stability and can be exploited remotely through the processing of maliciously crafted ELF files without requiring any authentication or privileged access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11383 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially disrupt critical security analysis workflows and penetration testing operations. Security professionals who rely on radare2 for vulnerability research, malware analysis, and binary exploitation activities face significant operational challenges when this vulnerability is present in their analysis environment. The remote exploitation capability means that adversaries could deliver malicious ELF files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms, causing automated analysis tools to crash and potentially exposing the attacker to information about the target system's analysis environment. This vulnerability directly impacts the availability of reverse engineering tools and can be leveraged in broader attack chains where analysis tools are targeted for disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-11383 should prioritize immediate patching of radare2 installations to version 2.5.1 or later where the uninitialized variable issue has been resolved through proper initialization. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures before processing unknown ELF files in automated analysis environments, particularly in threat intelligence and malware analysis systems. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices that can lead to unpredictable behavior and security implications. Additionally, implementing defensive programming practices such as explicit variable initialization, memory debugging tools, and runtime checks can help detect similar issues in other components of the analysis framework. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1499: Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables adversaries to disrupt legitimate security analysis activities and potentially gain insights into defensive tooling through controlled crashes. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based restrictions on file processing and regular security updates to prevent exploitation of similar uninitialized variable issues in other software components.